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Strength and Speed Training Improves Pitching Velocity

Does Strength and Speed training improve pitching velocity? Most pitching coaches will say NO because either they have no experience with it or because they have no understand of the science behind it. The answer or should I say the secret is YES!

All you have to do is read the science behind it and also look at the results. The most recent example is Tim Collins. He is the pitcher for the Kansas City royals. He used a strength and conditioning program to increase his velocity from 82mph to 97mph in about 3 years. Another advocate for Strength training is Josh Beckett. This is a pic of him during his off-season training program. Here is one of his quotes from the Men’s Fitness article here:”

“What you do during the offseason is, first, build a base,” he said. “That takes about three weeks, and then you try to get as strong as you can before you go to spring training. Once you get there, you taper down and it’s just a maintenance program for the next six or seven months.” – Josh beckett

You can learn more about his strength training program in the article. Read more

Training the Power Pitcher

When it comes to training the power pitcher, you must not only have a good understanding of pitching mechanics but strength and conditioning. The problem is most pitching coaches have a very poor understanding of strength and conditioning and most strength and conditioning coaches have a very poor understanding of pitching mechanics. Read more

Pattern Overload a Major Cause of Pitching Injuries

Overuse has been considered the primary factor for most pitching injuries. Performing the same motion over and over again leads to what the strength and conditioning and medical science world calls Pattern Overload. This is when the body uses load sharing to reduce the stress on the muscle group that is being overused. This causes dysfunctional motor coordination and creates instability in the joint which leads to poor mechanics and eventually injury. Read more

Pitching Velocity Specificity

Pitching Velocity Specificity is based around two variables; pitching mechanics and physical fitness. The baseball world has a descent understanding of how important sound pitching mechanics are in producing an above average pitcher but they have very little understanding of how effective physical fitness is in producing an above average pitcher.

This has a lot to do with the trickle down theory. Most of baseball gets their education from Major League Baseball. The problem with the MLB is that they are made up of an elite group of athletes. Therefore the league does not have to spend a lot of time in physical development of their players because everyone they acquire is already developed. This is why they draft athletes over baseball players. If you want proof just look at the 2000 MLB draft when the Colorado Rookies Drafted Michael Vick in the 30th round. The last time Michael Vick played baseball was in the 8th grade. They drafted him because he is one of the best athletes in the country. The MLB would rather draft athletes than just baseball players because they know it is easier to turn an athlete into a pitcher than a pitcher into an athlete. This is why the MLB has very little knowledge and experience in physical fitness and development. So why does all the levels under the MLB look to them for guidance in physical fitness and development? Good question! Read more

Lifting Weight Doesn’t Increase Pitching Velocity, Really!

I am really tired of hearing “Old School Coaches” saying weight lifting does not increase pitching velocity. I mean, REALLY! Coaches, what do you think Roger Clemens and his trainer Brian McNamee where doing together besides just the steroids? The problem is the coaches who are saying this are from the pre-steroid era.

Do your history! The pitchers from this era and before did not spend their time in weight rooms because they had to spend their off seasons making an honest living. This means they worked on farms like Bob Feller or were crab fisherman like Joe Dimaggio. Have you ever bailed hay or pulled a crab trap from the water? It is no different than power cleaning 150 pounds or more. Yes, these old ball players where lifting weights, it was just on the farms or the fishing boats. Just ask Bob Feller who lived his entire life as an advocate for fitness and today is still considered one of the games hardest throwers. He will tell you the importance of strength and conditioning for the elite athlete. Read more